Although Virginia has your typical tourist destinations like beaches, historical sites, and national landmarks, sometimes these aren’t enough to quell your curiosity for the weird or obscure. Luckily, Virginia also has an ample amount of unusual and bizarre places that will have you taken aback. The next time you have an insatiable urge for the wacky, make sure to check out some of these unusual destinations.
1. Dinosaur Land
If you’ve ever caught yourself staying up until the odd hours of the morning to watch a rerun of “Jurassic Park,” you can’t afford to miss Dinosaur Land in White Post. For more than 50 years, this establishment has entertained adventurers, travelers, and locals with 50 amazingly accurate models of these famed, albeit doomed, prehistoric creatures. From carnivores such as the tyrannosaurus rex and velociraptor to gentle herbivores such as the stegosaurus and triceratops, you’re destined to find your favorite dinosaur here. Open seven days a week, admission is only $5 for kids and $6 for adults. Don’t forget to hop into their gift shop to pick up a unique gift for that special someone.
2. The Giant Roller Skate
Whether you love the nostalgia of a roller skating rink or you still put on your four-wheeled shoes, you’ll love the Giant Roller Skate in Bealeton. This 10-foot skate made of wood and plaster has been an attention-grabber off Highway 17 for decades. Today, it marks the entrance to the Rollerworks Family Skating Center, but it also provides a photo opportunity you won’t get anywhere else.
3. Foamhenge
We always seem to be trying to recreate Stonehenge in one form or another. There’s the famed Carhenge in Nebraska, but in Virginia, there’s Foamhenge. Located in Natural Bridge, Virginia, this homage to the famous British archaeological find is composed entirely of Styrofoam and painted gray to resemble the famous site. Local artist Mark Kline built this amazing attraction entirely to scale. While it doesn’t hold the same mystique as the original, it’s definitely a sight to behold.
4. Mini-Graceland
For the ultimate fan of the King of Rock and Roll, a visit to Graceland is the pilgrimage of a lifetime. However, if you don’t have time to journey to Memphis, you can see a smaller version in Roanoke. Mini-Graceland is the work of Elvis Presley fan Don Epperly and is, as the name would imply, a small-scale version of Presley’s home. However, if you take pictures of the homage, it looks as if you’re at the real thing. That is, unless a two-story dog walks by the minute mansion. Either way, it presents a great photo-op and a chance to see just how fanatical Elvis fans can be.
While these attractions might not be the Old Dominion’s biggest draws, they certainly have a bizarre aura that’s too good to pass up. If you’re traveling through Virginia, give in to curiosity, and give these spots a look for yourself.
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